Account-file.



ZZZZZ7ZJVZZ/I?IZZ PATENTED MAR. 10 1908. E. J. VIGKERS.

ACCOUNT FILE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE-6. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR- fl TTOANEYS No. 881,363. PATENTEDMAR. 10 1908.

' E. J. VIGKERSL ACCOUNT FILE.

Ke oard Accounts u ccoumh 0 a\ & o n Occou elm qucni' (lcpo'u 00000 lf J 5 EDWIN J. VICKERS, OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO.

' ACCOUNT-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed June 5, 1907. Serial No. 377,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWIN JQVIGKERS, a

, citizen of the United States, residing at New Philadelphia, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Account- File, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for filing in an accessible. and compact form account slips contained in numbered trays, a keyboard to be used. in connection with said trays and the numbers thereon, and an in dexed 'lile for holding such letters, bills, etc. as are not suitable for admission to the trays.

The main object of the invention is to provlde a hlc holder in which a large number of lilo trays for containing numerous account slips may be mounted in compact form and occupy a comparatively small space, to which accounts access may be gained without any appreciable loss of time.

betically arranged, all letters, bills, receipts;

Another object of the invention used. in connection with the file holder relates to a key of the accounts contained in the file trays which enablesthe personkiwping the .lile. to know by a mere glance at the key whether anyone having an account with him has paid up, paid on account,-or is delinquent in his payments.

A further object of the/invention refers to an indexed file in which may be kept, alphaetc. which are not suitable for admission to the trays or files.

A suitable-casing is provided to protect the account slip trays and the indexed files, while the key is placed on one or two tablets hinged to the base of the casing and adapted to fold up against the ends of the same and secured thereto by a suitable latch, the whole presenting a neat and attractive appearance.- The account file may for convenience be secured to the top of a case in which is fitteda money drawer and writing board.

With these and other objects in view, the invention further consists in certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the claims. r i

To fully illustrate and make clear the invention, attention is called to the accompanying drawings, in which, 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the account file partly open to expose certain elements of the invention which would otherwise be hidden from sight. Fig. 2 is a vertiarm.

its supporting arm.- Fig. 9 is a view of a tray knob. 7

Similar reference numerals are used on all the figures to designate the same parts.

As a support or base for the account file, there ma be provided a box or case 1 in which is fitted a money drawer 2,'and a writing board 3 below the money drawer. This support, however, is only a convenience, as the file holder may be attached to any other form of base demanded by the user.

Rigidly secured to the base 1 are two upri ht arms 4 and 5 suitably spaced to admit al lorizontal cylinder 6 fixed to a shaft 7 journaled in the aforesaid upright arms 4 and 5.

Projecting radially from the periphery of the cylinder 6 are, a plurality of arms 8 arran ed in two series in planes per )endicular to the axis of the cylinder. preferably at its inner end a foot 9, fixed in any suitable manner tothe cylinder 6, and a central slot 10 extending from said foot to a point near its outer end 'whereit terminates in a cross slot 11, the two slots together resembling a long letter T (see Fig. 6).

Slidably mountedon each arm 8 is a file tray 12 havin upturned sides and front end, the latter 13 aving an upward curve to afford room for [attaching thereto at its center, a knob 14, The outer face of the .knob has the number, of the file tray placed thereonyits stem, pas/sing through the front endof the file tray and rotatable therein, carries within the tray 81 finger 15 of suflicient length to extend througll" slot 1.6 in the tray and into the cross s'l'o't liin the end of the arm 8. From this itwill be-observed that when the finger is turned down the file tray will be locked to the arm and cannot slip off even when in its lowermost position. The num- Eac 1 arm has ber of the file is placed on the knob in such relation to the finger 15, that when the number is u right the finger will be locked to the spring arm 17 is attached to the inner end of 'the file tray and extends forwardl. to hold the account slips in place so that t ey will not fall out when the cylinder is rotated. For convenience the file trays with even numbers are placed in one series and those with odd numbers in the other series. On the under side of the file tray are attached two guide plates 18 between which and the bottom of the tray the arm 8 slides as the file trays are withdrawn and returned.

As an additional guide to the tray, a stop plate 19 depends therefrom through the slot 10 in the arm and is provided with lateral extensions below said arm, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The cylinder 6 and the slidable file trays 12 thereon are inclosed within a sheet metal casing 20 having a straight vertical back and a. curved top and front concentric with the cylinder and extending a very short distance outside the file tray knobs 14. Attached to the front of the casing and a little below its center is an inclined shelfor rest 21, its outer end supported by a curved front plate 22 resting on the base 1. The upper surface of the shelf is in a plane passing through the axis of the cylinder, so that when the file trays are withdrawn for use, they rest flatly on the shelf. In the front of the casing 20 are two parallel slots 23 and 24 extending from near the top of the casing to a point below the shelf or rest 21, which latter, as well as the curved front plate 22 are also slotted at 25 and 26. The slots 23 and 24 expose the knobs 14 of the file trays and are sufficiently wide to admit the fingers for turning the file holder, but too narrow to permit the files being withdrawn except at the level of the shelf 21 Where the slots are widened lat- -erally at 27 and 28 sufficiently to allow the withdrawal of a tray from either or both series.

The file trays and holder are inclosed with in the casing 20 by partitions 29 and 30 placed within the ends of the casing near the uprights 4 and 5. The left end of the casing is in this type permanently closed by an end plate 31, but the right end is covered by a door 32 hung to the back of the casing by a hinge 33 and provided on its edge with a flange 34 having an outline similar to the outline of the casing. Within the space between the partition 29 and the door 32 is pivoted to said artition an indexed file 35 formed of a numl fer of pivoted leaves 36 adapted to fold one upon another and be fastened by a latch 37 and be opened out as in Fig. 1 to insert or remove a pa er from the file. Each leaf has attached to it a plurality of spring arms 38 to hold the papers filed, and an index on its outer edge. When the file 35 is folded Within the space 39 and the door 32 closed, the flange 34-0f the door passes over the edge of the casing and is held a ainst accidental opening by a latch 40 on t e door engaging with a depression 41 on the casing. A finger piece 42 is applied to the door for opening and closing it.

As thus far disclosed all that is necessary to obtain an account slip is to rotate the file holder by means of the fingers on the knobs until the desired number is brought opposite one or the other enlarged slot 27 or 28. Then, bypulling on the knob 14 the file tray 12 will be withdrawn through the slot as far as possible and rest on the shelf 21 in convenient position for carefully examining its contents.

' As long as the tray remains in open position the file holder cannot be rotated, the tray 12 looking it fast at 27 or 23, but when the tray is pushed in, the 'file holder may then be once more revolved. The absolute withdrawal of the tray is prevented by the stop plate 19 on the tray striking the outer end of the slot 10 formed in the arm 8 and being arrested thereby.

The knobs 14 contain numbers only, as here inbefore stated, and unless the operator remembers the numbers temporarily attached to the names of the numerous persons it will be very difficult to find the file tray containing any one persons account. To obviate this difficulty and at the same time show the condition of any account. as to whether it has been paid up, anything paid on account, or if it be delinquent, a key is provided which, for convenience, is divided into two parts, placed on tablets 43 and 44, pivoted to opposite ends of the casing at the bottom so that they can be folded up close against the ends and secured by a spring cateh 45 at the top of the casing which is curved on the same radius as said top. The key is .divided similarly to the numberedv file trays; that is, the even numbers on one tablet say the right hand one"- and the odd numbers on the other tablet. The even number tablet 43 is pivoted to the outside of the door 32 and swings out with it, the spring latch 45 for holding the tablet closed being attached to the door flange.

The arrangement of each key tablet is the same, and therefore a, description of one will serve for both. Referring to Fig. 4 on which the left or odd number tablet is represented, there is disclosed a series of parallel horizontal lines 46 e ual in number to one-half the file trays in t e left series of files on the cylinder 6. These horizontal lines are divided centrally by a vertical line 47 into two sections. On the left of each section are vertical lines forming two narrow columns 48 and 49. A similar line on the right of each section forms a third narrow column 50. .In the two columns 48 are placed the odd numbers corresponding to the odd numbered file trays. In the broad spaces between the columns 49 and 50 are written the names of persons whose account papers are in the file means of distinguishing in a moment the kind is clalmed is:

.slidably mounted cylinder,

881,363 employed for showing the condition of the l a casing for said file trays havin a slotted account. In the present instance the markopening in its front opposite eac series of .65

width than said trays expands to the his number. ployed are distinguished by colors, for instance, those 51 have red heads and indicate that the account of the person on the same line is paid up; blue heads 52 show that the accounts of persons on the same line have been in part liquidated, while the yellow pins 53 denote delinquent accounts. Addislot, said extended opening being of sufiicient size to permit one of said file trays to pass through.

. account file comprising a revoluble l file holder having a plurality of slidable file trays arranged in two parallel series, a casing 1 for said file holder having a slotted o ening l opposite each series offile trays of su icient' l size to permit a sin le file tray to pass l through, an indexed e within one end of inquent miscellaneous accounts to remain said casing, and a door hinged to said side for laced in the proper 'inclosing said indexed file. e place after notifv- 7. An account file comprising a revoluble ing the persons to whom they belong of the file holder having a plurality of radially slidcondition of their account. I able file trays each provided with an identi account file of this type is very useful fying mark differing from all the others, a saver in all forms of business and holder, a'tablet hinged to debit and credit kept; one series of file trays the other side for By means of the key a busi ness man can ascertain at a moments notice the condition of his business, the reliability of those who deal with 'm' and whether it would be safe to continue their credit. device is simple and can be manufactured at The markers he're em- 5. account file comprising a revoluble file holder having a plurality of slidable file trays, a casing for said file holder having a curved front with a vertical slot in the curved front of said casing opposite to but narrower teristic of each variety of pin followed by a short description of the use to which it is'put. A few additional horizontal lines are placed below the numb for writing columns is identifying marks on said tablet. An account file comprising a rev'oluble plurality of radially slidin two parallel series, numbered differently, a casolder, a

hol

each tray bein ing for said file side of said file aving thus described the invention, What the file trays contained in the adjacent series,

a space for a name opposite each number, and a plurality of sets of markers each one of which when placed opposite a name or number will convey by its distinguishing character certain information.

' 9. An account file comprising a revoluble file holder having a plurality of fixed radial arms, a file tray adapted to slide longitudinally on each arm, and a knob pivoted on the front of'said file tray and provided with a finger within the file, said finger ada ted when turned to lock the file tray to the ed arm within. the casin In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own, I\have hereto afiixed my signature 120 in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN J. VIOKERS.

1. An account file comprising a rotatable cylinder,'a plurality of fixed arms pro'ecting radially om its periphery, and a e tray on each of said arms. account file comprising a rotatable a plurality of fixed arms projecting radially from its periphery in two series, and a file tray slida ly mounted on each of saidarms.

3. An account file comprising a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of fixedarms projecting radially th two series parallel to planes perpendicularto the arm.

4. An account file comprising a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of fixed arms projecting radially therefrom, in two parallel series, a file tray slidably mountedon each arm, and

Witnesses THOMA GoLDER,

CHARLES MILLER. 

